Page 32 of Perfect Bragg

“Why did Han Solo cry during his steak dinner?” He grins. “Because it was Chewie.”

“You’re a weirdo.”

“I prefer the term unique.” The amusement disappears from his face as he palms my neck. “You said you’re losing the baby. What did you mean?”

I blow out a breath. “The baby’s father wants custody.”

His brow wrinkles. “The baby’s father? I thought he wasn’t in the picture.”

“Apparently, he just put himself in the frame.”

He chews on his bottom lip. “But isn’t this a good thing? He’s Robin’s dad. She should know her dad.”

I growl. “Not if he’s a drug addict.”

I will never ever let Amy’s child be raised by an addict. She’d come back from the grave to haunt me if I did. And I wouldn’t blame her one bit considering a drug addict took her family from her.

His eyes widen. “Drug addict?”

I nod. “Yep.”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to fight for custody?”

“I want to, but what chance do I have? I may be Robin’s second cousin, but I’m a single woman with no other children. Wesley is her dad. Trust me. Courts prefer to give custody of the child to a biological parent.”

“Even if the biological parent is a drug addict?”

“Yep. Even then.”

“What do you want to do? Do you want to keep Robin?”

I don’t hesitate. “Yes. Robin has burrowed her way into my heart. I don’t want to let her go. I want to protect her from the world.”

“I have an idea.”

“I am not kidnapping my cousin and going on the lam.”

“Going on the lam?” He chuckles. “Sounds fun, but I have a better idea.”

“I’m afraid to hear this.”

“We’ll get married.”

My heart skips a beat. Married? To Elder?Say yes,Rebel Harmony screams.We’ll show him a wedding night he won’t forget!I ignore the woman with sex on her brain.

“But—”

He pinches my chin. “Hear me out. What judge in his right mind will award custody to a drug addict if he can choose a married couple who both have good jobs and live in a small town?”

The idea has appeal, but “I don’t know.”

Elder kisses my forehead. “Think about it. The entire town will show up as character witnesses for us. Seriously, the baby daddy won’t have a chance.”

The baby daddy won’t have a chance?

I straighten my back. If this is what needs to happen for me to keep Robin, I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect Amy’s baby girl. Even if the person I need to protect her from the most is her father.

“Okay,” I say and Elder grins. I wag a finger at him. “But this can’t be real. The marriage will merely be an arrangement for me to gain custody of Robin.”

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